Renault Eolab Concept Pursues a 1L/100 km Future

In the contest for ultra-high fuel efficiency, France is coming up with a seriously tough lineup of concepts.

Both Peugeot and Citroën have concept cars on display at the 2014 Paris Motor Show that blend aerodynamics, low curb weights and cutting edge powertrain technologies to return 1L/100km on the European cycle. And now Renault has just unveiled its fuel-saver to the world's press, showing off the Eolab, a concept hatch that promises to use only one liter of fuel for every 100 kilometers traveled.

For the math averse, that works out to about 282 miles per gallon, or a lot. Like the PSA concepts, a low curb weight is key to the Eolab's efficiency. With an overall weight at just about 2,100 pounds, the gas-electric hybrid powertrain, which can run up to 60 km on electric power alone, isn't forced to work too hard.

While PSA based its concepts on actual production models – the Peugeot 208 and Citroën C4 Cactus – the Eolab is more of a pure concept. According to Renault, it employs "100 new, realistic technological developments" that could make their way onto French roads.